Premier League

West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham: Frederic Piquionne Goal Hands Hammers First Premier League Win Of The Season

By Richard Parry

0

Sep 25, 2010 16:52:00

Grant's side off of the bottom after derby victory...

West Ham United secured their first Premier League victory of the season, as Avram Grant's side defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Upton Park, a win which lifts the Hammers off the bottom of the table.

West Ham, roared on by a vibrant home crowd took the ascendency in the opening moments, winning three corners in the opening 10 minutes as Avram Grant’s side looked to make an early breakthrough.

The Hammers were lively, and Spurs were unable to cope with tempo of their opponents, demonstrated by Tom Huddlestone’s cynical foul on Scott Parker after three minutes; as the Tottenham midfielder clipped the heels of the West Ham captain.

For Spurs, their main spark was unsurprisingly Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutchman continued his impressive start to his Premier League tenure, and stung the hands of Robert Green with a rifled effort from all of 20 yards.

The former Madrid man had looked to make the breakthrough moments earlier, but his free-kick was deflected out for a corner.

But it would be the home side who would take the lead just before the half-hour mark, withFrench strikerFrederic Piquionnebagging his second goal in as many games, and his first at Upton Park. Fittingly, the goal came from a corner, and while Vedran Corluka’s marking appeared suspect, the former Portsmouth striker leapt highest to powerfully head home past Carlo Cudicini.

The goal seemed to put both sides into a higher gear, as the match became increasingly end-to-end.

Luka Modric, returning to the side following a shin injury, forced anther fantastic save from Green, with the shamed World Cup goalkeeper tipping the Croatian’s goal-bound half-volley magnificently onto the crossbar.

But the Hammers held onto their advantage, and deservedly led at the break.

Piqu that out|Striker's bullet header lifts Hammers off the bottom

Spurs, buoyed on by a half-time talking to from their manager, looked to grab an early equaliser as the match restarted after the interval.

Huddlestone, captaining his side at Upton Park, let fly from the edge of the box with a dipping volley which deflected agonisingly wide off Crouch, to the dismay of the Spurs midfielder.

But the former Derby County man was left with his head in his hands minutes later, after he missed a golden opportunity to put his side level. The midfielder was played through, and with Green advancing he rounded the West Ham stopper before blasting his effort over the crossbar.

With half an remaining, Grant was forced into his second substitution of the match, as goalscorer Piquionne was replaced by Carlton Cole, after the Frenchman landed awkwardly following a challenge from Vedran Corluka.

But this did not deter the hosts, who went close to doubling their lead through a Mark Noble thunderbolt.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area before arrowing an effort towards the top corner, but Cudicini was at full-stretch to deny the midfielder, tipping the ball over the crossbar with a fantastic save.

And the Hammers boss was left scratching his head minutes later, after Sebastien Bassong seemingly pulled Carlton Cole down in the penalty area, but despite the home side’s appeals, they were left with only a corner kick for their troubles.

With the match slipping away from Spurs, Redknapp made three late substitutions in an attempt to turn the tide, replacing Peter Crouch with Roman Pavlyuchenko, Aaron Lennon with Robbie Keane, and Van der Vaart with Giovani Dos Santos, in a 10 minute flurry by the Spurs boss.

And it was the Irishman who had the best chance to grab the equaliser after a fantastic run from Modric.

The Croatian meandered through the West Ham midfield before jinking past Parker to then lay a cute pass onto Keane, but his curled effort was straight at Green.

But the Hammers held on, to deservedly claim all three points in what was their first Premier League victory of the season, a result which lifts them from the bottom of the table.

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